Inaugural round table of 15th ISLA with three guests discussing their works which include short story, novel, and non-fiction.
We inaugurate this edition of ISLA bringing together three guests to discuss the complexities of the human being through their works, which include short story collections, novels, and non-fiction.
Katya Adaui, in her short story collection
Here Be Icebergs
, explores the secrets, pains, and silences within close everyday relationships. Meanwhile, Mary Costello, in her latest novel,
A Beautiful Loan
, chronicles the journey of a young woman who embraces her life’s path by accepting herself and claiming the life she yearns for. Roger Mateos, with his book
El verano de los inocentes
, brings us closer to the story of the last execution under the Franco regime in 1975 Spain.
In conversation with Catherine Dunne.
In Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpretation into both languages.
Enter the draw to win a live caricature portrait by artist Brady Izquierdo.
About the guests
Katya Adaui
is a writer and academic born in Peru of Palestinian and Italian descent. She currently lives in Buenos Aires. Her books have been published in Spain and Hispanic America, and she has received major international awards, including Peru’s National Literature Prize, 2023. Her book
Here Be Iceberg
(Charco Press) has been translated into English by Rosalind Harvey.
Mary Costello
has published three novels and two short story collections. Her first novel,
Academy Street
, won the Irish Novel of the Year and Irish Book of the Year awards in 2014, and was shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award, and the EU Prize for Literature among others. Her second collection of stories,
Barcelona
(2024), was an
Irish Times
bestseller.
A Beautiful Loan
(2026) is her latest novel.
Roger Mateos
is a Spanish journalist that currently serves as Head of Politics at the EFE News Agency in Barcelona. He is the author of the historical investigative books on the Franco dictatorship,
Caso Cipriano Martos
(2018) and
El verano de los inocentes
(2025). He is also co-author of
Toda la verdad
(2019), an investigative work examining the Catalan independence process.
Catherine Dunne
is the award-winning author of twelve novels. She was the recipient of the 2018 Irish PEN Award for Outstanding Contribution to Irish Literature and is a member of Aosdána.
Organised by Instituto Cervantes in partnership with the Embassy of Peru, and Literature Ireland.
With the support of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature-Dublin City Council and RTE Supporting the Arts.